Five things you need to know about the second round of the 2024/2025 NPFL

It’s another weekend as the action continues in the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League.

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A total of seven league games were played, in which 14 goals were scored from six crosses and only one game was a waste.

Three matches involving Elkanemi, Enugu Rangers and Enyimba were also postponed to another day.

The flooding in Maiduguiri forced the postponement of the Elkanemi Warriors match while Rangers and Enyimba were contesting the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederations Cup.

In our usual style, we look at the five things that make week two of the 2024/2025 NPFL season tick.

*Remo Stars maintains the record at 100% and a clean slate*

Remo Stars defeated Sunshine Stars in the Battle of the Stars by 1-0 with a maximum of six points for the Ikenne Blues, who also achieved a consecutive clean sheet.

They have lived up to the bookmakers’ expectations as one of the favourites to win the league. Their 100% win record so far puts them top of the table, with a 3-goal advantage, although there are still 36 games to play.

*Finidi wins the tactical battle of the former Super Eagles*

The build-up to the Rivers United-Heartland match was overshadowed by the calibre of the two coaches on the opposite bench as the match pitted Finidi George against Emmanuel Amuneke.

Both served the Super Eagles with merit as players, while a few months ago both were in contention to coach the Super Eagles but the Nigeria Football Federation settled for Finidi George at the expense of “fan favourite” Emmanuel Amuneke. The rest is history.

This weekend’s game offers both managers the chance to show what they are capable of tactically and the media enjoys the luxury of having the legends face off on the pitch.

But it was Finidi George who came out on top again as Rivers United thrashed Heartland 3-1. Kabir Abdullahi’s second-half brace separated the two teams after the first half ended in a 1-1 draw.

*Two crucial objectives for the end of the night*

We saw two games with two important goals at the end, when two home teams made their value count as the clock was coming to an end.

Akwa United rescued a point at home thanks to a 90+11 minute Edidiong Ezekiel penalty to salvage a draw after Abia Warriors took the lead in the fourth minute through Adejoh Ojonugwa. Abia Warriors will surely not be satisfied with the only point on the road, having spent over 90 minutes holding the lead, but they will be satisfied with the ‘penalty goal’ late in the afternoon.

Bendel Insurance will feel the pain even more as they took the lead against Katsina United away through Oronsaye in the 17th minute but Lukman counter-attacked to make it 1-1 in the 22nd minute.

As everyone waits for the final whistle of the match, Falolu conjures some kind of magic in the 90+8′ to score the winning goal for the home team with a beautiful volley and Katsina United takes maximum points.

*A Sunday of raffles*

It was a Sunday of draws, as four of the five matches played on Sunday (September 15, 2024) ended in a draw.

The only win of the day was in Katsina, at the hands of Katsina United, which came as a surprise. The decisive goal came in the 8th minute of added time, otherwise the day would have been a day of draws as Bayelsa United drew 1-1 with Kano Pillars. Abia Warriors got a goal in the last minute to keep the score at 1-1.

Niger Tornadoes hosted Nasarawa and held on to a goalless draw while Shooting Stars and Plateau United failed to separate as both teams finished 1-1 in Ibadan

*Heartland in free fall*

Heartland FC suffered another 3-1 defeat away to Rivers United in Port Harcourt, the same result they suffered at home against Enyimba last weekend in the opening matchday.

Emmanuel Amuneke’s boys are in free fall at the moment, the team is very vulnerable in defence which is not a good sign for their ambition to play in the NPFL every season.

Coach Emmanuel Amuneke certainly has his work cut out for him. He has a name to protect and a job to do: ensuring Heartland’s fortunes change for good.

It’s still early, he has enough time and games to restore order in Heartland as the first signs do not look good.

All the results and scorers of week 2

Remo Stars 1-0 Sunshine
⚽ Shuaibu Ibrahim 7′

Rivers United 3-1 Heartland

⚽ Taofeek olaniyi 3′, Kabir Abdullahi 68′, 90+’1

⚽ Christian Molokwu 45+’

Akwa Utd 1-1 Abia Warriors

⚽ Edidiong Ezekiel 90+11′ Ojonugwa Adejoh 4′

Niger Tornadoes 0-0 Nasarawa United

Insurance Katsina Utd 2-1 Bendel

⚽ Lukman Bello 22′, Azeez Falolu 90+’ – James Orosanye 17

Bayelsa Utd 1-1 Kano Pillars

⚽ Rabiu Abdullahi 59′ – Auwalu Ali Malam 41′

3SC 1-1 Plateau United

⚽ Uche Onwuasoanya 45′ – Victor Dawa 39′

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